After crossing A26 by the new
bridge (not on OS map yet ?), climb Itford Hill. The next 5 miles to just above
Alfriston are mainly grass fields, with many sheep !

View
of Itford Hill from Piddinghoe ( a few miles south); radio masts just visible to
middle right on hill.

After slight ascent
passing the radio masts, and slight incline to Firle Beacon, it is then
slight down gradient. Grass fields, quite a few gates. There are good views from Firle
Beacon (trig point). There are two small car parks, both free.

Panorama
(made up of 6 photos) not annotated; to left (east) is towards Alfriston
to right (west) Southease, middle is south. NBlarge file

On reaching the gate
(photo below) before the copse to
the NW of Alfriston, SDW is signed straight ahead, but this is short narrow path
between thorn hedge, so I went to right then immediately left to rejoin on chalk
track.

There is also a good view towards Windover Hill and SDW going up it ! (photo below)

Slight
downhill on chalky stone,

then left bend and steep rough descent to Alfriston. It changes to
tarmac residential road at bottom. At crossroads, give way, then straight over
to the main street.

Alfriston

Turn left at the
main street, then just before the market cross in middle of
road, no more than 50 yards, turn right down River Lane. The only mention of SDW
is a small sign on wall of house. (I had parked in Alfriston, and so did not see
sign, missed turn).

After a right and left, both clear fingerposts, go (cycle) over
foot bridge; SDW via coast is right, SDW bridleway is straight ahead. Follow narrow
path to road, then left. After 1/4 mile, at T-junction, turn right up SDW track.
Photo below

then follow track up Windover Hill, chalk flint, roughish, long ! But good views back across valley !

There
is an unexpected deep valley to the right.

The next 1.25 miles are slightly down
and across open grass downland with far views, lots of sheep. There
are posts every few hundred yards as SDW gradually bends round.

Eventually,
gate to wood (just after Holt Brow). Follow narrow track for approx 100yds to track crossroads. The
finger post is hidden in bushes to the right. SDW is wider track to left, going
down.

Descend through woods, (roots etc) quite dark
after open downs. Watch out for bear (turn, not animal!) right after about 300 yards as SDW is a smaller
path branching off to right.

Then follow
down , winding through trees to fields and Jevington Church. Follow lane into
Jevington.

Jevington

There is a post Silver Jubilee
on left before road. On the wall of restaurant ahead, there is a
sign that (link to website) Banoffee Pie was 'invented here'. !!

At road, turn right, SDW
is second on left, about 30 yds. SDW becomes rough stone, compacted lumps of
brick ?, (makes v rough descent if coming other way). Again, comes out in to
open with views back to Jevington.

Becomes single track between wire fence,
widens out to chalk flint to top of Bourne Hill.

There is a track crossroads,
SDW straight ahead. At brow, good view to Eastbourne. SDW then is gravel stone track
beside golf course for 1 1/2 miles, not very exciting !

NB Change Jan 2102

Thanks to Ming Locke Jan 2012: start end has changed see below

previous route

At road A259, bear
(another one !) on
track to right , then cross over road.

Grass, bear left near trig point, descend
to Eastbourne (I stopped here and rode back to Alfriston (where parked my car)
and Southease.